The United States, Israel, and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with Pakistan acting as mediator. The agreement aims to ease heightened tensions in the Middle East, and Tehran announced that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will now be possible. The ceasefire declaration has brought a temporary calm to the region after a period of escalating conflict.

Islamic scholar and As-Sunnah Foundation chairman Shaykh Ahmadullah expressed hope that the ceasefire would become permanent, praying for relief from oppression and aggression worldwide. He made the remarks in a post on his verified Facebook page on April 8.

Bangladesh welcomed the temporary halt in hostilities, with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs issuing a statement urging all parties to respect the ceasefire and work constructively toward a durable peace. The statement commended the diplomatic efforts behind the agreement and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s belief that all disputes should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy.

Former interim government chief adviser and Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called on global leaders to take immediate and effective measures to end the ongoing war in the Middle East. In a statement released to the media on Wednesday, he warned that the conflict is pushing an already wounded world toward deeper instability and causing immense suffering for civilians, particularly children.

Dr. Yunus described the war as not merely a regional crisis but a profound moral challenge for all humanity. He said the conflict is heightening global uncertainty and instability, with poor nations bearing the greatest cost as marginalized communities face worsening hardship. He emphasized the urgent need for courage, compassion, and a clear vision to build global unity.

He urged world leaders to act decisively to uphold international law, prioritize diplomatic dialogue over military escalation, and strengthen multilateral cooperation. According to him, humanity must choose peace over war, dialogue over aggression, and unity over division.

Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has warned that the ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel, and Iran could collapse if the Lebanon front is not included. Hezbollah parliament member Ibrahim Mousawi stated that the Hezbollah-Israel front is part of the deal and insisted that if Israel fails to comply, Iran and the wider region will respond.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military announced that its ground operations and fighting against Hezbollah would continue, echoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position that the ceasefire agreement does not cover Lebanon. Despite the ceasefire taking effect, Israel has continued to carry out attacks in southern Lebanon.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has repeatedly emphasized that any agreement must include the Lebanon front, underscoring Tehran’s consistent stance on regional inclusion in ceasefire arrangements.

Several countries including China, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Oman, Germany, Australia, and others have welcomed the recently announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The ceasefire, reportedly lasting two weeks, was described by many governments as a positive step toward easing tensions in the Middle East. Statements of support were issued through official channels and social media, with leaders emphasizing the need for dialogue and restraint.

China’s foreign ministry said it had worked toward lasting peace in the region, while Japan called the truce a positive move and awaited a permanent peace deal. France’s President Emmanuel Macron praised the development but warned that Lebanon’s crisis must also be addressed. The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to help sustain the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, Germany, and Australia highlighted the importance of diplomatic efforts and thanked mediating nations such as Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Other nations, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Iraq, and New Zealand, echoed calls for compliance with the ceasefire terms and avoidance of provocations. Many expressed hope that the truce would lead to a permanent resolution and regional stability.

A large-scale conflict erupted after the United States and Israel launched major attacks on Iran on February 28, killing the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated, sparking a regional war that has left thousands dead across the Middle East, with most casualties reported in Iran and Lebanon.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 3,636 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, including more than 150 in attacks on girls’ schools. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported at least 1,900 deaths in Iran. Lebanese authorities said 1,530 people, including 129 children, were killed by Israeli strikes since March 2. Three Indonesian UN peacekeepers died in southern Lebanon, while Iraq reported 117 deaths. Israel’s ambulance service confirmed 23 deaths from Iranian and Lebanese missile attacks, and its military reported 11 soldiers killed. The US Central Command said 13 American soldiers were killed and over 300 wounded.

Casualties were also reported in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and northern Iraq, underscoring the widespread regional impact of the conflict.

According to data from shipping software company AXS Marine released last night, a total of 1,441 ships were waiting on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 959 vessels were positioned on the western side inside the Gulf, while 621 ships were waiting on the eastern side to either load gas, fuel oil, chemicals, or dry cargo, or to deliver goods to Gulf countries.

AXS Marine reported that since the war began on February 28, no LNG carriers have crossed the strait. Many ships had turned off communication systems to conceal their positions and avoid potential attacks. Between March 23 and April 6, only 51 tankers passed through the strait, including 15 carrying crude oil and nine transporting chemicals. Before the conflict, an average of 51 ships crossed the strait daily, indicating a sharp decline in traffic.

Before the ceasefire announced last night, Iran allowed ships owned by China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan to pass. Following diplomatic discussions, Malaysia and Thailand were also granted permission, and on April 2, Philippine-flagged vessels received clearance.

Iraq has reopened its airspace and resumed operations at all airports after a two‑week ceasefire between Iran and the United States. The country’s Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement on Wednesday announcing that the directive would take immediate effect, allowing flights to resume across Iraqi territory.

According to the statement cited by Al‑Jazeera, the reopening marks the end of restrictions imposed during the recent conflict period. The decision follows the temporary closure of Iraq’s airspace and airports amid heightened regional tensions between Iran and the United States.

The move signals a return to normal air operations in Iraq after weeks of disruption caused by the conflict and may help stabilize regional air travel routes if the ceasefire continues to hold.

Iran has proposed a ten-point plan ahead of talks scheduled to begin Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan, with two key points directly challenging the US naval presence in the Middle East. Tehran intends to impose a toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and seeks the removal of US military forces from the region. The proposal raises questions about whether the toll would also apply to warships.

The move poses a serious challenge for the US Fifth Fleet, which is responsible for securing vast maritime areas including the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. The fleet also oversees critical chokepoints such as the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to research fellow Collin Koh of Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, any toll requirement would hinder US military operations in the Gulf.

Koh added that unless former US President Donald Trump changes the overall posture of US Central Command in the Middle East, Washington would find it impossible to accept such a toll system.

French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the recently announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a very positive step. However, he cautioned that the situation in Lebanon remains extremely critical and urged that the country be included within the scope of the ceasefire agreement.

According to an Al Jazeera report cited in the source, Macron has long emphasized the importance of ending conflict in Lebanon and has repeatedly called for preventing the nation from sliding further into violence and instability. He stated that achieving lasting peace in the Middle East requires a comprehensive approach that considers all regional conflicts.

Macron’s remarks reflect France’s continued diplomatic engagement in Middle Eastern stability and its concern over Lebanon’s fragile security environment amid broader regional tensions.

The United States and Iran are both showing signs of trust in Pakistan as a potential mediator in ongoing regional conflicts. The report notes that Iran, which no longer trusts its Arab neighbors due to their close ties with Washington, has maintained a strong diplomatic relationship with Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi referred to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir as ‘dear brothers,’ reflecting Tehran’s confidence in Islamabad. Pakistan’s lack of diplomatic relations with Israel over the Palestinian issue further strengthens this trust.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s relations with the United States have improved compared to the previous year. Islamabad has joined Trump’s peace board aimed at ensuring stability in Gaza, and Trump has described General Munir as his ‘favorite field marshal.’ Munir’s connections within both U.S. and Iranian defense circles reportedly give Pakistan an advantage in facilitating dialogue.

Additionally, Pakistan’s positive relations with other Gulf nations position it as a potential bridge for collective efforts to de-escalate regional conflicts and promote peace.

The Bangladeshi-flagged vessel ‘MV Banglar Joyjatra’, which had been stranded in the Persian Gulf, has finally received permission to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The ship, carrying 31 Bangladeshi sailors, resumed its journey early Wednesday morning after a ceasefire took effect. According to international tracking data, the vessel departed from Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al Khair port and was positioned off Dammam’s outer anchorage, moving at a speed of 8.3 nautical miles per hour toward Cape Town, South Africa.

Chief Engineer Rashedul Hasan confirmed that the ship had loaded about 37,000 tons of fertilizer before anchoring near Dammam. Following the ceasefire, it began sailing toward Hormuz, approximately 425 nautical miles away, a distance expected to take around 40 hours to cover. The vessel had earlier been delayed due to escalating regional conflict.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf began in late February after a U.S.-Israel strike on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks, prompting international authorities to classify parts of the Gulf as high-risk zones. The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation had earlier decided to withdraw the vessel from danger until safe passage was assured.

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has warned that the ongoing Iran conflict should not be viewed as an isolated crisis. In a blog post published on April 8, 2026, he described it as part of a broader collapse in the global system, reflecting historical patterns that have preceded major wars. Dalio argued that the world is already in a form of world war encompassing military, economic, technological, and geopolitical dimensions.

He cited multiple interconnected conflicts, including those involving Russia, Ukraine, Europe, the United States, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran. According to his “Big Cycle” theory, the world is now in a phase where financial systems, political structures, and global power balances are simultaneously weakening. He compared the current stage to the pre-war periods of 1913–14 and 1938–39.

Dalio suggested that China and Russia appear to be emerging as relative winners in this shifting order, while the U.S.-led post-1945 system is breaking down. He warned that conflicts are likely to intensify rather than subside, with the Iran war marking the beginning of a larger global confrontation.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed that the United States and Israel suffered a 'miserable defeat' following what she described as an unprovoked and unilateral aggressive attack on Iran on February 28. She made the remarks in an interview with Sputnik Radio, emphasizing that Russia had opposed the attack from the outset and had called for an immediate halt to the aggression.

Zakharova reiterated that there is no military solution to the current situation and that diplomatic engagement remains the only effective way to resolve the crisis. Her comments reflect Moscow’s continued criticism of Western and Israeli actions in the region and its advocacy for diplomatic approaches over military confrontation.

The statement underscores Russia’s positioning as a vocal opponent of military escalation in the Middle East and its support for diplomatic conflict resolution.

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran just two hours before threatening to destroy the country’s “entire civilization.” The decision followed high-level diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, whose Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged all sides to halt hostilities. According to The New York Times, Iran’s new supreme leader approved the ceasefire proposal, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump stated that the ceasefire was based on discussions with Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, and that planned US strikes on Iran would be suspended for two weeks under specific conditions. He added that the US had already achieved its military objectives and was advancing toward a long-term peace agreement, describing Iran’s ten-point proposal as a workable basis for talks.

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, the situation remains volatile. Explosions were reported in Tehran and across the Gulf region, while US and Israeli forces intensified attacks on Iranian infrastructure. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for a strike on Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex, signaling continued regional instability.

US President Donald Trump has declared a 'complete and total' victory in the conflict with Iran while announcing a ceasefire. In an interview with AFP, he said that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile issue would be 'perfectly resolved' under the new agreement, adding that he would not have entered the deal otherwise. Earlier, when asked about the matter, Trump had said he was not concerned, arguing that satellite monitoring was sufficient.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed that it had agreed to a two-week temporary ceasefire, with further discussions scheduled for April 10 in Islamabad. The council listed key conditions, including maintaining Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and the complete withdrawal of US military forces from the region. Trump had previously described these conditions as 'workable.'

The timing of the ceasefire’s implementation remains unclear, as reports indicate that attacks and missile strikes continue across the region.